Other Destinations

Scattered across almost 1200 coral islands in the Indian Ocean, about 450 miles southwest of Sri Lanka, are the Maldives. Formed of a 26 atoll necklace, spanning 800km from north to south, the Maldives offer postcard-perfect tropical island settings.

World-renowned as a supreme diving destination it's on most divers' bucket-lists (although it's astonishing what can be seen with just a mask and snorkel), while romantics have long been attracted by the "no news, no shoes" ambience and sparsely populated beaches. More recently new resorts have aimed to cater for a wider audience and there's plenty of options for families and fun-seekers alike.

Each resort, of which there are over 100, is its own island and varies considerably in terms of style and price, from the cheap-and-cheerful to the ultimate in luxury. We travel frequently to the Maldives, and collectively our team has visited over 90 of these islands - with so much choice, allow us to provide unparalleled specialist guidance to curate your ideal Maldivian experience.

What To Do

The beauty of the Maldives of course, is that you don’t have to do anything. The utterly picturesque landscape and overwhelming tranquillity implores visitors to do nothing more than find a hammock and settle in. For those wishing for a little recreation and excitement, however, the Maldives also offers an array of activities to keep mind and body stimulated. Being an island nation, watersports is the predominant leisure outlet available. Many resorts only allow low-key watersports to protect the fragile environment, these include: kayaking, canoeing, catamaran sailing, windsurfing and paddleboarding. Keen snorkelers should also look out for resorts that boast a house reef for easy aquatic exploration right on your doorstep. Motorised watersports are also available at many resorts though, such as: jetskiing, wakeboarding, kitesurfing, banana boats and Seabob underwater jetskiing.

Diving is also a major attraction for visitors as the Maldives is home to some of the most diverse and vibrant marine life in the world, most resorts therefore have a PADI-certified dive centre. Keen fishers may also have the opportunity to be taken on big game fishing excursions, depending on their resort. The abundance of water activities however does not mean that the Maldives are devoid of culture, or that this culture is inaccessible to guests visiting resort islands. Many resorts offer excursions to local islands where handicrafts are sold and guests may take the opportunity to peruse and soak in the local Maldivian flavour.

Getting Around

The Maldives is an island nation, of more than 99% water and stretching around 800km North-to-South, which makes getting around a little more interesting than calling an Uber from the airport.

Unsurprisingly the majority of transport is by boat, with traditional Dhonis, both sail and diesel powered, offering a relaxed, leisurely pace. Most resorts within an hour's travel from Male operate a faster speedboat service, collecting visitors from the jetty at the airport. Some of the high-end properties provide a more luxurious motor yacht transfer, while at the mass-market level you might find yourself on a more ferry-like launch.

If travelling to more remote atolls, air travel offers speed and convenience. The Maldives boasts the largest fleet of seaplanes in the world, and the views afforded across the islands is unique and unforgettable. Seaplane transfers will take you directly to your resort, although you may touch down briefly at one or two other resorts en route for drop-offs and pick-ups.

In the past few years a number (7 and counting) of local airports have sprung up around the archipelago, serving domestic traffic and tourists alike. Resorts then provide a quick speedboat transfer to and from each airstrip. Check-in is at the domestic terminal in Male, just a few moments walk from the main international arrivals area, and unlike the seaplane services, flights run to a schedule and can operate outside of daylight hours and in all weather. As a result domestic flights are, more often than not, more reliable than the seaplanes, as well as a little cheaper.

When To Go

The Maldives has the advantage of being a truly year round destination; air (30-32°C) and sea (28-30°C) temperatures barely change throughout. Maldivians still operate on the ancient ‘nakaiy’ calendar, which determines their lifestyle (when to fish, build, marry etc.). This calendar is split into two seasons, Iruvai and Hulhangu, known to tourists simply as high and low season respectively. If you're looking for a few extra hours of sunshine, you should travel between December and April, which is the high season. February to April is the hottest, most popular period. May to November is the period when storms and rain are more likely.

Ultimately, it is simply not possible to predict weather patterns across the 800km extent of the Maldives islands. There is no land mass to influence where the rain falls, so there is no way of saying whether any region, north or south would have more or less precipitation- North Malé Atoll could be experiencing clear sunshine while Gaafu Atoll is experiencing a thunderstorm. We generally consider the best times to go in terms of value for money as late-April/early-May, or during October. If you are looking for stable weather then January to March is your best bet, though prices are correspondingly higher and offer no guarantee of unmitigated, clear weather.

Getting There

Angelfish Travel use British Airways for direct flights (from London Gatwick, during winter months only), and Emirates, Etihad, Sri Lankan and Turkish Airlines with a stop-over. Departures can be arranged from most UK airports. Seats are available in Economy, Premium Economy (BA only), Business and First Class depending on the airline and aircraft configuration. We only recommend scheduled airlines, as the service quality, entertainment, and additional 2-3 inches of legroom makes all the difference on long haul flights.

Note that seaplane transfers to and from resort islands operate in daylight hours only, and late arrivals into or early departures from Male can run the risk of complications (ask us for more details if you have concerns).

Sri Lanka & Maldives

Given its location and all it has to offer, Sri Lanka twins perfectly with the Maldives. We can think of no better way to round off a heady, whirlwind tour than balanced with a few, low-key days on one of the Maldives' 'no-news, no-shoes', remote desert island resorts.

With our intimate knowledge of these destinations, we'll help choose the perfect place to complement your Sri Lanka experience for an unforgettable holiday or honeymoon.